Compare towns
Barnard vs Exeter vs Wilder vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barnard | Exeter | Wilder | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
16,151Highest |
3,087 |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.